Collapsible paint bucket



March 16, 1965 .1.w. Dom-:GAN 3,173,573

COLLAPSBLE PAINT BUCKET Filed Jan. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIU ll ZW l l JAB/55s W. Do/vEGA/v March 16, 1965 J. w. DoNEGAN coLLAPsIBLEPAINT BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1963 INVENTOR. JA MES WDONEGA/v United States Patent O 3,173,573 COLLAPSIBLE PAINT BUCKET JamesW. Donegan, 149 Prospect Ave., Middletown, N.Y. Filed Jan. 29, 1963,Ser. No. 254,765 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-93) The present invention relates tocontainers generally and in particular to a collapsible bucket for useas a container for paint or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblebucket for paint or the like which may be partially collapsed as thepaint is used up so that the surface of the paint is not exposed to air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblebucket which lends itself -to ease of manufacturing, one sturdy inconstruction and of simple structure, one which may be manufactured inquantity at reasonable cost, and one which is highly effective inaction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will beunderstood from the following description when taken in connection withthe annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partially in section showing thecollapsible bucket according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG- URE l,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the upper end portionof the bucket,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a component of the bucket, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a modifiedform of the bucket.

With reference to the drawings in detail, the bucket of the presentinvention comprises an outer shell having a rim 12 on the upper endthereof, the rim 12 being crimped to the edge portion of the outer shell10.

The outer shell 10 is provided with vertically disposed diametricallyopposed slots 14 and the outer shell 10 is formed so as to have externalthreads running from the top to the bottom.

An inner shell 16 having a bottom 18 formed integrally therewith, ispositioned within the outer shell 10 and has its upper end edge portionSecured to the outer shell 10 by crimping together with the rirn 12.

The inner shell 16 is provided with a plurality of annular fold lines,as at 20 in FIGURE 1, the fold lines 20 permitting collapse of the innershell 16 upon upward movement of the bottom 18 towards the rim 12.

The present invention provides a support member 22 having tab elements24 projecting outwardly from opposed points thereof. The tab elements 24are received in the slots 14 and they connect the support member 22 tothe outer shell 10 for upward and downward movement relative .to theshell 10.

A ring actuator 26 is provided conformably shaped to fit the threads ofthe outer shell 10 and is threadably enice l gaged therewith. As shownin FIGURE 1, the actuator 26 forms a support for the support member tabelements 24 and as the actuator 26 is turned on the threads of the outershell 10 it serves to raise the support member 22 with respect to theouter shell 10.

In FIGURES 1 and 3 it will be seen that a portion of the outer shell 10adjacent the upper end thereof is struck outwardly to form an ear 28through which is projected an end portion of a bail 30.

In FIGURE 5 a different form of bail 30 is shown in which an end portion32 is inserted through a hole pro vided in the outer shell 10'.

In use, as paint or other material is used up from the bucket of thepresent invention, the actuator 26 is turned on the outer shell 10 so asto raise the support member 22 and thereby collapse the inner shell 16.

In a preferred form of the invention the inner shell 16 may befabricated of soft pliable plastic or the like.

In addition to using the bucket of the invention for paints, other usesmay be found, such as a container for food from which air is to beexcluded after opening of the bucket.

While only preferred embodiments of the invention are shown anddescribed, other embodiments are contemplated and numerous changes andmodifications may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible bucket comprising an outer shell having threads on anexternal surface thereof and vertical slots in the external surfacethereof, an inner shell having a bottom and a continuous wall extendingfrom the bottom, the wall of said inner shell having a plurality ofannular fold lines, means for supporting the bottom of said inner shelland including tabs each slidably disposed in a respective one of theslots, and means threadably engaged with the external surface of saidouter shell for moving each of the tabs within a respective slot.

2. The bucket of claim l wherein said moving means is for providing anindication of the position of the bottom with respective to said outershell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,235,550 8/17Carmody 220-386.5 1,699,873 1/29 Brodsky 222-390 2,009,761 7/35Calderara 222-390 2,492,058 12/ 49 OConnor 222-390 2,611,512 9/52 Fashay220-93 2,649,995 8/53 Muskin Z22-386.5 2,771,220 11/56 Claps 220-632,912,136 11/59 Redmond et al. 220-63 3,052,371 9/ 62 Van Bemmelen220-63 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND. Examiner.

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BUCKET COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL HAVING THREADS ON ANEXTERNAL SURFACE THEREOF AND VERTICAL SLOTS IN THE EXTERNAL SURFACETHEREOF, AND INNER SHELL HAVING A BOTTOM AND A CONTINUOUS WELL EXTENDINGFROM THE BOTTOM, THE WALL OF SAID INNER SHELL HAVING A PLURALITY OFANNULAR FOLD LINES, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BOTTOM OF SAID INNER SHELLAND INCLUDING TABS EACH SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THESLOTS, AND MEANS THREADABLY ENGAGED WITH THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAIDOUTER SHELL FOR MOVING EACH OF THE TABS WITHIN A RESPECTIVE SLOT.